Cliff and Sue Parrish have successfully taught these principals to hundreds of prisoners in Illinois prisons and now they are making this 13-week class available to the general population. They are part of a team who have written a curriculum the helps people build a strong foundation for their lives. They invite you and people you care about to use these principals to build a stronger foundation for your life.

The following Stories From The Field editions will be a series of letters written by incarcerated men in the United States. These letters were penned as a response to FREEDOM FROM WITHIN, Foundations For Life – Unleash The Masterpiece, a program developed by CCWM Missionaries Cliff and Sue Parrish to teach how to live Godly principles in such a way that brings contagious life transformation, even within the walls of a prison. Cliff and Sue are taking Freedom From Within to the prisons of the United States and possibly to a church near you. This article was originally published by Cup of Cold Water Ministries.

Letter 1

I’m here to tell you that you are of value. You are worth investing time in. I don’t care what you’ve done to get here. It’s none of my business. I am here to show you how to unleash the masterpiece that is within you.

These are words I will never forget.

Cliff Parrish, a man I see as a mentor, said these words to a whole class. I felt as if he was directly talking to me and really he was. I had never heard these words in that way. Let alone spoken to me.

I am 27 years old. I have been incarcerated since I was 18 years old. Fatherless home with a loving mom, trying to play both roles while battling her own demons. She is a wonderful mom but just let some things set her very far off course. I grew up hopping around. Never really had a stable father figure except for my Uncle. It was always easy for me to do wrong never right. Through all of this, I never was really taught to have a foundation in my life. It was always “Do good in school, and you can do what you want.” And I did just that most of the time.

Luckily, I ended up in prison. While many people consider this a curse, it has honestly the best thing (Besides my daughter) that has ever happened to me. If it weren’t for this, I would have never encountered Foundations for Life.

When I first took “Foundations for Life” I had just accepted Jesus and was trying to get my feet wet into whatever seemed faith-based. I had no idea what I was in for! That was life changing Foundational framework for my life.

Principles and values. Meaningful impact. Authentic friendship. These are just a tiny taste of what you will find in this book.If you believe in transformation and are seeking it, this is for you! If you think you are of value and even more so if you don’t this is for you! Just believing isn’t enough.

1Peter 1:13 states “Therefore prepare your minds for action…” Keyword Action, you see, if there is no action behind your belief is there a belief?

Foundations For Life has greatly impacted my life. Every day I walk this beautiful earth. I am revealing the masterpiece to myself and the to the world though I fail, I am still as Ephesians 2:10.

The following Stories From The Field editions will be a series of letters written by incarcerated men in the United States. These letters were penned as a response to FREEDOM FROM WITHIN, Foundations For Life – Unleash The Masterpiece, a program developed by CCWM Missionaries Cliff and Sue Parrish to teach how to live Godly principles in such a way that brings contagious life transformation, even within the walls of a prison. Cliff and Sue are taking Freedom From Within to the prisons of the United States and possibly to a church near you. This article was originally published by Cup of Cold Water Ministries.

Letter 2

This class has shown me how to look within myself in ways I didn’t know how to.

When I first started this class, I was not the type of person who felt comfortable speaking in front of others, specifically crowds, and then I learned how to properly communicate through Foundations For Life. It was then that I started to learn how to understand how to speak publicly in front of others. I also learned how to communicate by listening, using the right tone, and using the right words. It has also given me the right spiritual connection with God, and it has shown me how to really establish a foundation in my household, and with any team that I am trying to develop or be a part of.

I am glad that my brother Cliff started this class because he has helped me with this class more than any college degree. This class has shown me how to look within myself in ways I didn’t know how to. I have been able to identify issues that I never knew that I had until I was able to discover myself, and my own issues, through this class. I have become a better man to my family and my female companion and most of all – God and myself.

The following Stories From The Field editions will be a series of letters written by incarcerated men in the United States. These letters were penned as a response to FREEDOM FROM WITHIN, Foundations For Life – Unleash The Masterpiece, a program developed by CCWM Missionaries Cliff and Sue Parrish to teach how to live Godly principles in such a way that brings contagious life transformation, even within the walls of a prison. Cliff and Sue are taking Freedom From Within to the prisons of the United States and possibly to a church near you. This article was originally published by Cup of Cold Water Ministries.

Letter 3

Most of all applying what I’ve learned… “Live it to give it!”

I thank God for allowing this even to become a book that many will share the benefit as I’m sharing with you. As you read these pages, you’ll notice that each chapter is so interesting very captivated with a spiritual power that moves you to continue reading on.

I am so blessed to have inside my life, my beautiful wife. She is without a doubt a true woman of God. I am incarcerated, and yet she is still inside my corner even though I cheated on her. And out of that product my son was conceived. Adultery. I see the characteristics in her which I’ve learned from these classes as examples: Gentle Spirit, Loving Affection, Effective Communication, to name a few. She added value to my life which allowed me to be honestly more compassionate.

I’m 52 years old, as I mentioned earlier, I’m incarcerated. I’m not trying to brag about my wife but to reflect on how precious a woman’s worth is. I’m writing the forward for this book because so many individuals today are either in my shoes, been in my shoes or, most importantly, I pray, can avoid being in my shoes.

Inside the book, you’ll learn about blind spots, which are areas you don’t see yet others do. Also, it builds a respectable persons spiritual growth and a mental growth at the same time, producing morals, values, and principles in which we see certain changes from day to day and person to person.

We all need someone. We were never intended to be alone. I’ve grown to understand this is true while attending these classes:

Foundations For Life, Taking the Lead and Thriving Teams; which has allowed me to flourish and grow into someone special. As Mr. Cliff says UTM “Unleash The Masterpiece – that is within every one of us! We are very unique individuals.

As you read each chapter in itself you’ll notice transformation immediately and become attached to this book as if this book was personally for your eyes only; allowing your true identity to reflect and shine out of your personality whether on the job, in school, gatherings, family outings, etc.

The Masterpiece inside of you will be unleashed!May God bless you and yours always. Stay encouraged. I’m very thankful for these classes, books, materials, etc. It has truly given my life more meaning and my family, friends, and especially my wife has told me what changes I have made since taking these classes.

Thank you very much for taking your time out to read and become apart of what you just read.

The following Stories From The Field editions will be a series of letters written by incarcerated men in the United States. These letters were penned as a response to FREEDOM FROM WITHIN, Foundations For Life – Unleash The Masterpiece, a program developed by CCWM Missionaries Cliff and Sue Parrish to teach how to live Godly principles in such a way that brings contagious life transformation, even within the walls of a prison. Cliff and Sue are taking Freedom From Within to the prisons of the United States and possibly to a church near you. This article was originally published by Cup of Cold Water Ministries.

Letter 4

A simple, short phrase yet with profound significance beyond what those five little words alone could reveal. “Live it to give it!”

A simple, short phrase yet with profound significance beyond what those five little words alone could reveal. That short phrase, uttered by a man I’ve come to admire, Cliff Parrish, during our first encounter as he instructed a class that would catapult me, and my entire life into a journey I couldn’t have envisioned beforehand.

Before I go any further you should know I’ve spent the last 17 years in prison.I only mention that because it’s an integral part of this journey that’s brought me to this point where I’m writing the foreword for a book about influential leadership.

The book is called, Foundations For Life, a book that has infinitely transformed my life in a most deep-seated manner and it can and will do the same for you and for anyone who applies what’s learned. Thank you for letting me share my transformation with you.

With Love,From Prison

Freedom From WithinPhone: (815) 221-1700

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Our ambitious goal is to spread God’s true freedom in the heart of others using biblical principles.